tunnel

• Ouvrage souterrain ou sous-marin, généralement aménagé pour le passage de routes, de voies ferrées ou de canalisations, ou passage naturel de ce type.

A noun referring to an underground or underwater passage, typically constructed for roads, railways, or utilities.

1. Underground passageA2formal

   An underground or underwater passage built for roads, trains, or pedestrians.

   Passage souterrain

   • The train passed through a long tunnel under the mountain.
   • Workers are digging a new tunnel for the subway system.
   • The tunnel connects the two sides of the river.

   Synonymespassagewaysubwayunderpass

2. Animal burrowB1formal

   A long, narrow underground passage made by an animal for shelter or travel.

   terrier

   • The rabbit disappeared into its tunnel in the ground.
   • Moles create complex tunnels beneath the garden.
   • The fox dug a tunnel to reach the chicken coop.

   Synonymesburrowearthhole

3. Metaphorical passageB2informal

   A difficult or challenging period that one must go through to reach a better state.

   passage difficile

   • She felt like she was in a dark tunnel with no end in sight.
   • After months of hard work, he finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
   • The recovery process felt like a long tunnel, but he kept going.

   Synonymeshardshipordealpassagestruggletrial

• Verbe utilisé pour désigner l'action de creuser ou de créer un passage à travers ou sous quelque chose, ou de se déplacer à travers un espace restreint.

A verb used to indicate the act of digging or creating a passage through or under something, or to move through a confined space.

1. Dig a passageB2formal

   To dig or excavate a long, underground passage.

   creuser un tunnel

   • The miners tunneled through the rock for months.
   • They are tunneling under the river to build a new subway line.
   • The prisoners tunneled their way out of the jail.

   Synonymesboreburrowdigdrillexcavateminesapundermine

2. Move through a narrow spaceB2informal

   To move or pass through a narrow or confined space.

   se frayer un passage

   • The rabbit tunneled into the snow to hide.
   • He tunneled through the crowd to reach the exit.
   • The roots tunneled deep into the soil.

   Synonymesburrowsqueezethreadwormwriggle